]]>http://www.marshall.edu/graduate/2014/02/18/fall-2014-ga-positions-open/feed/0Accelerated Masters Degree for Seniorshttp://www.marshall.edu/graduate/2013/08/02/accelerated-masters-degreefor-seniors/
http://www.marshall.edu/graduate/2013/08/02/accelerated-masters-degreefor-seniors/#commentsFri, 02 Aug 2013 19:08:41 +0000http://www.marshall.edu/graduate/?p=4801Continued]]>Undergraduates accepted to an Accelerated Master’s Degree program can begin taking graduate coursework in their senior year up to a maximum of 12 hours in place of electives. Students reduce the number of hours required to complete the Bachelor’s degree by the number of graduate hours they complete (up to a maximum of 12). They must meet all other degree requirements for their Bachelor’s degree while they work on their Master’s degree. None of the credit hours used for the Bachelor’s degree can be counted toward the Master’s degree.

Graduate coursework/credit will appear ONLY on the graduate transcript, and graduate course grades will be calculated at the graduate level.

Advantages of an Accelerated Degree:

complete the Bachelor’s degree with up to 12 fewer credit hours, (must meet all other degree requirements for the Bachelor’s degree);

begin work on the Master’s degree during the senior year;

complete up to 12 graduate credits at undergraduate tuition rates;

earn a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in less time.

Current list of undergraduate programs which offer the Accelerated Master’s Degree (please check back for additions)

must meet the admission requirements of the chosen Master’s degree program.

Note: Accelerated Master’s Degree programs may have admission requirements that differ from the admission requirements for the regular Master’s degree. For example, some departments might waive the required admission test, such as the GRE, GMAT or Miller Analogies. Students should check with the chosen Master’s degree program.

How to Apply

During the junior or senior year, eligible students should meet with their Undergraduate Advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies of their chosen Master’s degree program to develop an Accelerated Master’s Degree Plan of Study. The Plan of Study form is available from the Graduate College office or online at the Graduate College website. The completed, signed, and approved Plan of Study must be submitted to the Graduate College. Any changes to the Accelerated Master’s Degree Plan of Study must be approved by the Undergraduate Advisor and Director of Graduate Studies and submitted in writing to the Dean of the Graduate College.

The student’s acceptance into the Accelerated Master’s Degree program is subject to the approval of the Plan of Study by the Dean of the Graduate College.

Students accepted into the Accelerated Master’s Degree program should apply for admission to the chosen Master’s degree program for the first semester after the bachelor’s degree is awarded. Applications should be submitted during the last semester of the senior year.

Requirements for Continuation in the Accelerated Master’s Degree ProgramStudents must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 for all graduate credit toward their Master’s degree program.

Withdrawal from the Accelerated Master’s Degree
A student may withdraw at any time from an approved Accelerated Master’s Degree program by informing the Undergraduate Advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Dean of the Graduate College in writing. A student’s status will then revert to the standard undergraduate degree program. Any graduate hours earned must be approved for use in fulfillment of bachelor’s degree requirements by the student’s Undergraduate Dean.

From Undergraduate to Graduate StudentBeginning with the semester after the student has earned the Bachelor’s degree and has been accepted into a Master’s degree program, the student is enrolled in the Graduate College and is assessed tuition and fees at the graduate rate. All rules regarding graduate education will apply to the student once admitted into the Master’s degree program.

Marshall’s Forensic Science Grad Program ranked No. 1

Marshall University’s forensic science graduate program has been ranked first in the nation after students received the highest overall scores on the Forensic Science Assessment Test, a qualifying test offered each year by the American Board of Criminalistics..

A Marshall student also earned the highest test scores from among 179 students representing 15 other participating forensic science programs. Eleven of the top 25 test scores were from the Marshall Forensic Science Graduate Program. Pamela Staton, coordinator of the program, said the test scores are evidence of the high quality education the program provides.

“The quality of an academic program can be measured by a program’s achievement of national accreditation and how well its students perform on national board examinations,” Staton said. “The Forensic Science Graduate Program at Marshall University has achieved both of these honorable distinctions.

“This translates to high quality forensic science services to law enforcement, the legal profession and the public as graduates of this program become forensic scientists in the field.”

The test is useful in assessing the program’s strengths and demonstrating to prospective students and the public the program’s ability to meet national standards, said Terry Fenger, director of the program.

“The results demonstrate not only the quality of the program and its students, but the dedication of its full-time faculty and the many adjunct faculty members,” he said. “The program greatly benefits from the input of law enforcement and criminal justice system professionals here locally and across the state.”

Marshall’s program is accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

The exam was administered in Spring 2013, and students who took the exam are now graduates of the program. The exam tested students’ knowledge in forensic biology, controlled substances, trace analysis, toxicology, latent prints, questioned documents, fire debris and firearms/tool marks. The test is offered to students in their last semester of study.

The program will provide Ray with a stipend of $10,000 per semester. In addition, she will receive mentoring and research opportunities through the university, networking opportunities through the Southern Regional Education Board doctoral scholars program, and financial support for her dissertation and thesis work.

A native of Glen Allen, Va., Ray received her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University in 2009. She worked as a research assistant at Duke and as a process development engineer at Talecris Biotherapeutics in Clayton, N.C. She has been a graduate student at Marshall since 2011.

“Kristeena is a truly outstanding graduate student and we are thrilled to present her with our first award from the new Chancellor’s Scholar Program,” said Dr. Shari Clarke, vice president for multicultural affairs. “The ideal candidate, she is dedicated, well-rounded and committed to her research.”

Ray said, “Being part of this program is such a gift and an honor. The stipend lightens the burden of locating funding and allows me to really focus on my research. I am also excited to take advantage of the additional benefits, including networking opportunities and membership in key organizations in my field.”

Ray works in the lab of Dr. Nalini Santanam, a professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Toxicology at Marshall’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. Her research is focused on endometriosis and the pain caused by the disease, which is characterized by cells normally present in the uterus migrating outside the organ and attaching to other places in the pelvis. At least one in seven women suffers from the condition.

Specifically, Ray is investigating the epigenetics of pain in endometriosis the changes caused to DNA and genes by environment and lifestyle.

She said, “We’re looking at epigenetic markers in patients with endometriosis. We believe that our continuing research in this area will help us better understand what leads to endometriosis in some women and find alternate treatment options for its symptoms.

“Long-term, I am interested in the research and development behind drugs and therapies, such as one that may benefit women with endometriosis.”

In April, she presented her research at the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, which was held in conjunction with the Experimental Biology conference in Boston.

Ray serves as president of the Graduate Student Organization, is a member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and volunteers with the March of Dimes and the Tri-State Literacy Council.

The Chancellor’s Scholar Program at Marshall is funded through the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

]]>http://www.marshall.edu/graduate/2013/07/24/biomedical-sciences-student-selected-for-chancellors-scholar-program/feed/0What is it like to be a graduate student?http://www.marshall.edu/graduate/2012/11/19/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-graduate-student/
http://www.marshall.edu/graduate/2012/11/19/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-graduate-student/#commentsMon, 19 Nov 2012 18:06:24 +0000http://www.marshall.edu/graduate/?p=2384What’s it like to be a Graduate Student at Marshall University?
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